Photo journalist Chris Arnade has created a moving and gritty series call Faces of Addiction, a collection of candid portraits of individuals living in Hunts Point in the Bronx, struggling with their drug addictions, each with their own tragic tale of violence, rape, abuse, poverty and crime.
Many of these New Yorkers live in homeless shelters, derelict buildings and even crack dens and whilst they are aware of their choices in life and standing in society, all of them are grateful for the small things that they do have. Through his photography and story telling, Chris has given them a platform for expression and handled their often heartbreaking stories with a gentle and restrained dignity.
I post people’s stories as they tell them to me. I am not a journalist. I don’t try to verify, just listen.
It’s easy to ignore others. By not looking, by not talking to them, we often fall into constructing our own narrative that affirms our limited world view. What I am hoping to do, by allowing my subjects to share their dreams and burdens with the viewer and by photographing them with respect, is to show that everyone, regardless of their station in life, is as valid as anyone else.
Stay in touch with Chris via his Twitter profile @Chris_Arnade.
Takeesha: “A prostitute, a mother of six, and a child of God.” Here’s her story.
Jackie. “You live on the streets as a girl, you get raped. It just is.” Here’s her story.
Cynthia, single mother of 11, working the streets since 13. Here’s her story.
Diane, recovering crack cocaine addict, a mother, from Yonkers. Here’s her story.
Manny, Former pro boxer from Connecticut, now an addict living in a homeless shelter. Here’s his story.
“I am blessed. I am still here. Many others have gone. I am blessed. We are all blessed.” Here’s his story.
Michael as Shelley, arrested 156 times for prostitution and possession. Here’s his story.
Clarence, addict. Here’s his story.
Nicky, Vanessa and Mary Alice. “Don’t judge me till you get to know me! That holds for all of us girls out here.” Here are their stories.
Maribel. “If I tell you my story, I’ll make you cry, but I wanna do the before and after, and I promise a year from today you are gonna take my picture again and I’m gonna be bloomin.” Read her story.
Eugene, a Vietnam vet and former Marine, only drinks beer. Read his story.
Princess with her photograph by Chris Arnade. Married to Takeesha, protects the other girls at Hunts Point. Here’s her story.
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